Title information:

Two-second recap:

Sunny Side Up is a thought-provoking graphic novel, that beautifully illustrates the pain that one young sister feelings upon seeing her brother's struggles with addiction. It's family, friends and a new setting, that help her begin to find hope again.

Synopsis:

From the groundbreaking and award-winning sister-brother team behind Babymouse comes a middle-grade, semi-autobiographical graphic novel.

Following the lives of kids whose older brother's delinquent behavior has thrown their family into chaos, Sunny Side Up is at once a compelling "problem" story and a love letter to the comic books that help the protagonist make sense of her world.

By sister-bother team Jennifer and Matthew Holm. A 200-page, full-color graphic novel in the vein of Raina Telgemeier's Smile.

In Sunny Side Up, Holm shares the quiet tale of Sunny, a ten-year-old girl who is sent to spend the summer with her grandfather in Florida. Through parallel storylines, we watch Sunny adapt to quirky neighbors and a new comic book-loving friend, while also being introduced via flashbacks to just what initiated the trip: older brother Dale's increasingly violent struggles with addiction.

It’s always hard to write a book that fully captures the drama of fracturing family dynamics, but Jennifer and Matthew prove that they’re more than up to the task. We’re initially introduced to Sunny after the bulk of the drama with Dale’s addiction has already taken place, and we’re privy to her attempts to live her summer normally, while also working through her own emotions.

Though her days in Florida are fairly typical for a teen in 1976 - e.g. earning spending money by helping neighbors, and reading the latest comic books - there are also strong hints of post-traumatic stress. Sunny has an angry reaction upon discovering her grandfather's hidden vice of smoking, and it's that response which gently reminds readers to consider just how deep family issues may continue to impact our personal psyches, and cross over into other avenues of our lives.

However, Sunny's anger is also a reminder of the strength of the support system that Sunny has around her in Florida. Through her grandfather, new friend Buzz, and some equally charming and quirky neighbors, Jennifer and Matthew remind Sunny and the reader that life often takes very strange turns - e.g. Buzz's father's frank admission that he can't work in his profession of choice - and it's okay to accept and work through those frustrations, with support and honesty.

This lesson is an especially poignant and stark contrast to the loneliness, that we see in the flashbacks charting her brother's downward spiral. Jennifer and Matthew offer a sincere commentary on how addiction can impact those who are closest to the abuser, including feelings of isolation and responsibility. We're reminded again and again at how love and acceptance in present time can help begin to negate those previous feelings, which ultimately leaves the book on a positive, uplifting note.

Of special note for educators and parents: Throughout the novel, Jennifer and Matthew don't hesitate to show both the emotional and physical impact of Dale's choices

Though Jennifer and Matthew do a thoughtful, respectful job of reassuring Sunny that she is protected as these incidents come to a head, some of the associated feelings - e.g. panic as Sunny helps her brother cover up a lie - may stir up important questions and feelings in younger readers. Parents/educators might want to remember to engage with younger readers, and be prepared for an open and frank dialogue.

Final verdict:

Sunny Side Up is a enjoyable book, but it's also an important one. Jennifer and Matthew Holm have written a book that will help young readers learn how to process their emotions on complicated issues, while also reminding them to how to continue to find the positivity and hope in their lives.

I highly, highly recommend this book for all readers, full stop.

About the author & illustrator:

Jennifer L. Holm is the New York Times bestselling and three-time Newbery Honor-winning author of multiple novels for young readers.

Matthew Holm was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has been drawing comics since he was in middle school

Mara

7/24/2015 02:45:38 am

How did I not know about this?! Buying NOW.

Jess

7/26/2015 05:30:47 am

It's good! You'll enjoy it. :)

Emily

7/24/2015 03:26:00 am

What a great setup for a story. This is what younger readers need: a safe place to talk about real-world issues like this.